Hey all!
It might be a bit weird to be asking this here, but you guys have been so helpful with everything else, I figured there must be loads of like-minded people.

See, I have an android phone. Recently, by mistake, the internal memory got formatted, so I took the chance (along with rooting and installing custom recovery again) to build up my apps from the ground up.
I scouted around a lot of "Best Android Apps" lists, but it seems their criteria are a bit different from mine. I don't have a very good data package for downloading stuff (hence the "poor" in the topic subject), and even if I did, I wouldn't care about accessing facebook through my contacts or synching my calendar with google. For most of the stuff I'm looking, "social" requirements don't even exist at all- hence the "loner" part of the topic subject, and probably also the paranoid part if you add in weird permissions and accessing my phone.

But I love cool things! And obviously, everyone loves free things (especially if they're not rich). I have wifi at home, so if there's a requirement for downloading some stuff so I can use it later offline, I don't mind.

First off, I'm wondering if anyone has some suggestions for a calendar app on android that DOESN'T use google calendar as its base, where the main "awesome" feature isn't "We can synch to your online calendar!"?
Same for a clock (not just a clock widget) that isn't based off the clock that comes on most devices.
Also, an app that has a widget to show the phase of the moon. Why? Because the moon is awesome!
And a browser suggestion- I deleted Chrome and am using something called "Next" for now, but I hear Firefox is the best Android browser that isn't Chrome?
Also, suggestions for general cool apps, to do with sound, or art or music or utilises the features of my phone in a cool way.

Other than that, I love games, otherwise I wouldn't be here, but I've noticed I can't really play "deeper" games on my phone. Stuff like sudoku or puzzle games or even Super Hexagon is okay, but I can't sit down to play an RPG or even a platformer or FPS or racing game on my phone. My screen isn't small (5 inches) but it is not a tablet, so tabletty games wouldn't really be fun. Also, obviously, constantly needing internet access for verifying, or requiring in app purchases as a fundamental game mechanic, or even apps that are "free" but require you to purchase the "Full" version for what should be basic requirements is a no-no.

I have to admit, I use google play or the amazon app store when necessary (when I can't download the app package directly), so that doesn't REALLY fit the "paranoid" thing, but that is my limit. Being free and not needing internet for regular use is a definite requirement, though (although I have about $13 worth of Amazon appstore coins, if those come useful for anything).

To help you understand what I mean, here are some examples of the apps I have:

Games
Simon Tatham's Puzzles
I didn't get this off Google play, but this is the link I can find now. This is great! Tonnes of different kinds of puzzles, and no network or other weird permissions. Some of the games aren't really optimised for touch (I think it was on the PC first?) but is great nonetheless. And FREE!

Battle of Colors
Despite spelling "colours" wrong :P, this is also a fun little game to pass 15 minutes on. NO special permissions at all, and free as well!

Stiled
Another pass-the-time sort of game, still kinda fun, and again, no network permissions and free.

On the amazon store, and costing money, but I got them when they were free app of the day (something I'm a huge fan of!):
[url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GLRLZ0K/ ]Naught 2:[/url] No network permissions.
Sparkle 2 Evo: Again, no network permissions.
Tangled: No special permissions at all!
Again, experiences may vary, but since the cost was "free", it was worth it to check it out.

As for non-game stuff:
RealCalc Scientific Calculator:
Cool looking interface, more options than the built in calculator, and again, no network permissions and is free.
On the amazon store when they were free, I also tried out:
NeoCalc Advanced Calculator: No permissions at all.
A Scientific and Financial RPN Calculator (HP-12C & HP-15C likewise): Looked cool, but to be honest, I guess I wasn't the guy this was aimed at? Still, only vibration permissions.

Wifi Analyzer:
Requires network permissions, obviously, but it doesn't seem to do anything sneaky with them, and is a cool app, with a better representation and information of networks around you than what the android has by default. And free!

TeslaLED Flashlight:
Lets me use my camera flash as a flashlight, along with letting me signal in morse and has a hilarious "police siren" mode. And no network permissions, and is free!

MapFactor: GPS Navigation:
Instead of having to use Google Maps (which I uninstalled, yay!), I use this on the rare occasions when I need to find some place. Free if you use the OpenStreetMap maps, requires downloading the maps (which I can do on my wifi), but doesn't need internet to work. Obviously has network permissions, though, but is still free!

Other general cool stuff:
Google SkyMaps:
Not really useful, but really cool. Has network permissions, but works without them (I've never had it on a network). I'm not an astronomer or skygazer usually, but this almost makes me want to be one. As usual, is free!

GPS Status & Toolbox:
Not REALLY useful (unless you're a hardcore outdoors guy :D), but also really cool. Requires network permissions for something, no idea what, but I've never had it on a network and it works fine. Way better than the usual default "Compass" app, tells you your GPS coords, your heading, speed, orientation, altitutde, and some other things I have no idea about :D, but it's free!

Realtime Fractals:
Not useful either, but pretty. Doesn't do much beyond making fractal designs, but it does that in a cool way, and you can save your stuff to show off. No network permissions, and free as well.
Similar stuff I got from Amazon's app of the day (so no longer free):
Atomus HD
Trigonometrics

Cool musicky stuff:
Loops!: Fun free sequencer. Wish I had the skill to utilise it properly. No network permissions.
Plasma Sound: Not really a sequencer, but a more fun music-creation app, also free with no network permissions.
smart Chords & tools: I've been trying to learn to play the guitar, and this would be an awesome tool (if I knew how to utilise it fully). Free and with no network permissions.

Sorry for the long post, hopefully it was helpful for some, and some would be able to help me too!

Pixel Dungeon should be on everybody's phone in my opinion; it's great fun, totally free, requires no internet access or dodgy permissions and it's perfect for small screens and short play sessions. I've put more time into it than all of my (many) paid games together.

Despite my reservations about games more complex than simple puzzles, only 1 special permission (for vibrations?).
Downloading now!

As for the calendar app, there is Pocket informant. Though I believe it is not a free app. I used to use it especially during the PocketPC era, but the Google calendar is good enough for me.

Not sure what you mean by Clock app that isn't based off the phone. I think all of them use the phone's system time. I used to use Alarm Clock Plus, but the standard Google app does most of the things I want now including showing times in cities around the world.

Browser if you want a real speedy and minimalist browser there is Opera Mini. Though it is only the mobile version of sites.

For those that travel Flight Aware and Flight Stats are great apps to give you an updated gate number, and Seat Guru gives you a nice summary of the seat you will be calling home for the next few hours, like whether it has power, video, window not aligned with the seat, and no under seat storage options.

IP Camera View Basic if you happen to have some security cams setup. It connects to a lot of different brands to be able to view them when you are away from home. I get an email form my cameras and then fire it up to check things out.

OI Shopping List is also a frequently used app, as I can not remember anything once I get to the grocery store.

Not system time, but a lot of apps I noticed are just a frontend or widget for the default clock- i.e. if I delete that, then the app stops working.

Thanks for your other suggestions, though. Am looking them up!

FBReader is a good ereading app that you can download directly from the developer. I especially like how it works directly with Calibre tags and series metadata. It's simple to use and has a clean UI. It can connect directly to ebookstores but you don't need to. http://fbreader.org/FBReaderJ

My very tiny screen (however awesome in the sense that it makes the phone tiny) limits my choices in terms of apps and games. But I have "Pixel dungeons" (a tad too hardcore for me, I can hardly ever beat the 1st boss), AI factory's "Chess free" and "Go free" (I used to have their "Backgammon", "4-in-a-line" and "Reversi" too), Magma Mobile's "Lost Words", and "Andor's trail", a bit of a half-baked, grindy RPG and not updated anymore, "Gurk" was way better, though I have finished it and "Gurk 2" isn't free. "Jaws' revenge" was quite fun too, I always intend to install "UAE4droid" and emulate my amiga games, but never actually did it. There's also a free version of "Lords of Midnight", but I just can't comprehend that game.

Apart from that, I keep the obligatory "Soundhound" (the best reason to have a smartphone with you), "Google goggles", Cheetah Mobile's "Battery doctor" and "Clean master", ES App's File Explorer and Task Manager,And some Smart Tools Tools (sound meter, telemeter, etc). Apart from a nifty greek/English dictionary, that's all I can suggest.

Lookout Mobile Security

A bit of an old thread (I've been active for over a year now :O), but since I found this, I figured I'd post about it here:
An Android App Search Engine that can filter based on permissions and cost
Unfortunately, it is made up of a personally built up and curated list of the guy's own tastes and desires, so perhaps it skews in specific directions.

Also, this wonderful little app lets you search the Google Play store using permissions as a filter

Found quite a few wonderful little apps using these, apps that are totally free, and with zero permissions.

Also, as an update, Pixel Dungeons, which I spent many nights wasting time on, now has in-app purchases, which makes me a bit suspicious :(.
A pity Humble Bundle (or some other site) doesn't feature bundles with as few permissions as possible (sort of analogous to being DRM free).

Damn, I grew too paranoid to give stripsearch the authorisations it requires. :-/

Hahaha... That is a bit problematic, yes, although it does give you the option to either sign in every time (since it makes a point of not storing your details), or downloading a plugin of some sort (that requires more permissions?) that automatically logs you in. Apparently the method the app author uses to search the Google Play store requires you to be signed in.

Hot Death is like Uno, except with ruder cards that you can massively screw over others with. F/OSS, and no spectral permissions are needed.

Android Troper! Its TvTropes, on Android! Unlike Lampshade, it doesn't break every time you open a sub page, despite the notice.

Retroarch! The all in one dream emulation system!

Green Majong is a very simple Majong solitaire game with three simple tilesets, no cost, and no spectral persimmons.

Vector Pinball is a F/OSS pinball game with minimalist graphics, UI, and settings. Its pinball and the physics feel quite nice. No permissions.

Robot Finds Kitten! That ages old nerd thing where you throw yourself into a box of objects and bump into them to find the kitten! No Pimentos required!

Abstract Art is hard to describe. You remember those trippy as balls battle backgrounds from that obscure cult RPG earthbound? Yeah, this basically is that, but as a live wallpaper.

I also used this database to find some of the apps, but the problem is that while new apps are put up, old links aren't maintained, so you might find dead ends.

How the hell can you be paranoid and aroused at the same time?

Oh wait, that says 'loner'.

That's a pretty awesome site, Darvond, thansk! I didn't think to look for open source android apps. It makes sense, since if there was any shady stuff, people would see it.


It isn't so hard for one to cause the other :D.